Electric dictation installation



p 1953 J. E. GODECK 2,553,190

ELECTRIC DICTATION INSTALLATION Filed Jan. 16, 1951 I 6 Sheets-Sheet l L l Qq/ IF I IF! IP17" u L U luvlv'ron ATTORNEYS P 1953 I J. E. GODECK ELECTRIC DICTATION INSTALLATION 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 16, 1951 INVENTOR 913W W BY M ' ATTORNEYS Sept. 22, 1953 J. E. GODECK ,6

ELECTRIC DICTATION INSTALLATION I Filed Jan. 16, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet a INVENT R W FM BY flwufl ATTORNEYS Sept. 22, 1953 J. E. GODECK 2,653,190

ELECTRIC DICTATION INSTALLATION Filed Jan. 16, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR MWW ATTORNEYS Sept. 22, 1953 J. E. GODECK 2,653,190

ELECTRIC DICTATION INSTALLATION Filed Jan. 16, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR BY 7g M m I ATTORNEYS Sept. 22, 1953 J. E. GODECK 2,653,190

ELECTRIC DICTATION INSTALLATION Filed Jan 16, 1951 r 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR BY 7ZWL4 M 7 8 ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 22, 1953 2,653,190 I ELECTRIC DICTATION INSTALLATION John Edward Godeck, Esher, England, assignor to Brecomin (England) Limited, Gillingham,

England Application January 16, 1951, Serial No. 206,132 In Great Britain May 5, 1948 This invention relates to electric recording and reproducing installations ofthe kind in which matter spoken into a microphone is'recorded electro-magnetically on a wire or tape, and including take-off and take-up reels from one to the other of which the wire or tape is transferred in either direction by selectively driving the reels by means of an electric motor, a recording and reproducing head part which the wire or tape travels, the wire or tape moving past the recording and reproducing head in one direction, means being provided for reversing the direction of movement of the wire or tape and subsequently re-passing it through the recording and reproducing head in the normal direction for reproduction of the record as sound, together with electrical control means for starting, stopping and reversing the movement of the wire or tape, such electrical control means being actuated by a plurality of switches selectively operable by an operator.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved installation of the kind referred to, whichis well adapted for receiving dictated material for subsequent reproduction by a typist. Another object of the invention is to provide an installation which can receive and record dictation from any one of a plurality of remote points, from any one of which the installation can be controlled.

According to the invention, in an electric recording and reproducing installation of the kind referred to first and second counting devices are provided the first of which is driven during any movement of the wire or tape in-either direction and counts forwardly during forward movement of the wireor tape and backwardly during backward movement thereof, the second being driven only during rewinding of the wire or tape and subsequent forward movement of the rewound portion and counting forwardly during the rewinding movement and backwardly during the subsequent forward movement, the first counting device acting, when it reaches its zero position to operate switch means'for reversing the driving motor and for energising the recording and reproducing head for reproduction, the second counting device acting, when it reaches its zero position, to operate switch means for stopping the driving motor, and means being provided for setting both of said counting devices to zero without movement of the wire or tape.

The invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

' Figure l is a front elevation of one form of 12 Claims. (Cl. 179-1002) r 2 electric dictation installation according to the invention, the enclosing casing being omitted;

Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation on the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the installation shown in Figure 1 some parts being omitted;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a detail of the mechanism;

Figure 5 is an elevation of another portion of the mechanism;

Figure 6 is a diagram showing the electrical circuits of the installation; and

Figure 7 is a diagram showing the electrical circuit at a remote operating point.

In the installation shown in Figures 1 to 5 of the drawings, a wire is fed from a take-off reel it on to a receiving reel I I through a recording and reproducing head [2, the reels i0 and H being driven selectively in opposite directions by a single electric motor It, the drive from which is transmitted through a main shaft id and worm gearing I5 to the reel H, and through the said main shaft l4 and skew gearing it to the reel [0. The reels are mounted in a removable magazine I7, and engage, when the magazine is inserted in the installation, with driving spindles l8 and I9. Clutch means indicated at 20 and 2| serve to transmit the drive from the main shaft M to either the spindle i 8 or the spindle IS, the clutch means being fully described in co-pending patent application No. 12,395/48, to which reference may be made for a full description of the driving means, it being understood that rotation of the shaft Id in one direction causes the spindle E8 to be driven, and

rotation of the shaft M in the other direction 7 causes the spindle I9 to be driven. A brake drum 22 is associated with each of the spindles l8 and I9, its connection to the spindle being controlled by one way clutch means, and a pair of brake shoes, simultaneously operated so as to be released when the electric motor is started and ap plied when the electric motor is stopped, act one on each of the drums, the brake mechanism being fully described in co-pending patent application above referred to.

The reels l0 and H are arranged in the magazine as described in co -pending patent ap plication No. 12,394/48, and the magazine is secured to the installation as described in'that application. The recording and reproducing head I 2 is mounted on the installation so as to project through an opening in the base of the magazine,the wire then lying in a groove in the said head.

The spindle 13' carries a worm 23, Figure 2,

meshing with a wormwheel 24 on a shaft 25 On which is mounted one wheel of a bevel gear train 26, Figure 2, through which is driven a shaft 21 which, when the magazine is in position, drives a cross-threaded worm 28 therein, Figure 1, as described in application No. 12,394/48, to operate wire guides in the magazine. The shaft 25 also drives through a dog clutch 29, see Figure 4, a cyclometer type counter 30 having three blank drums, the first of which completes a rotation in one minute, the second in ten minutes, and the third in 108 minutes, each drum being arranged to close an electric contact in its Zero or reference position, and maintain the said contact open in all other positions. g

The shaft 2'! drives, through an intermediate shaft 3|, Figure 2, and two bevel gear trains 32 and 33, Figure 3, a second cyclometer type counter 34, Figures 1 and 3, having drums rotating at the same speed as those of the counter 30 but bearing embossed figures indicating tenths of minutes, minutes and tens of minutes respectively, this counter, unlike the counter 30,- being arranged so that each drum, when in its zero or reference position, permits the opening of two pairs of electric contacts, which contacts are closed when the drum is displaced from the zero position.

As the bevel gear trains 2'6, 32 and 33 have each a 1:1 ratio, the two counters 3B and 34 move at e the same speed. A. third cyclometer type counter 35, Figure 2, having markings similar to the counter 34 is provided in the magazine IT, and is driven through a flexible shaft 36 from the crossthreaded worm 28, this counter being driven at the same speed as the counters 30 and 34, and having a separate disc revolving with each of its drums, which disc is adapted, when the drum reads zero, to permit the closing of an electric contact. The tens drum of this counter also allows its contact to close when the said drum reads 50, so that the contacts controlled by this counter are all closed at the end of each 50 minutes. Figures on the counter are visible through a window in the magaaine.

The clutch 29, Figure 4, is spring-urged into the engaged position, by a spring 3'5, and is released by rod 29a acted upon by a solenoid (not shown in the mechanical drawings} which is the operating solenoid of one of the controlling relays of the installation, the clutch being released when the solenoid is energised, and engaged when the solenoid is ole-energized. Since, as will appear below, this solenoid is energized during the recording of a message, the counter 30. is not driven during such recording. The counters 33 and 34 are Zero-ised at the completion of each recording by mechanical zero-ising means shown diagrammatically in Figure 5, each oounterdrum bearing a heart-shaped cam 38 on which is brought to bear a follower 39 in the known manner. Before the counters are set to zero, a printed record of the reading of the counter 3a is taken on a paper strip ic which is wound off a reel 4! and fed outwardly through a slot in the housing of the installation, a hammer 42 pressing the paper strip is against an inked ribbon 43 which lies between the said strip and the counter drums. The ribbon 53 is carried on two reels 44 and 45. The hammer 42 and the zero-ising cam followers 30 are operated by a solenoid 46, the shaft on which the followers as are mounted carrying arms 41 and 48 connected to pawls 49 and 5D engaging ratchet wheels 5! and 52 on the ribbon reel 44 and on a paper strip feeding drum 53 respectively. Thus the paper strip and the inked ribbon are fed forward each time a record of the counter reading is taken.

The operation of the machine Will now be described with reference to the electrical diagrams of Figures 6 and '7, Figure 6 showing the main installation and Figure 7 a remote operating unit.

Referring first to Figure 6, the recording and reproducing head It, the electric motor [3, the three counters 30, 34 and 35, a microphone 6B and a loudspeaker 6i (which may be combined into a single instrument), an amplifier unit 62, a high frequency oscillator 33, and a bank of controlling push buttons 64, 65, 66, 6?, 6i] and 69 are shown together with a number of relays numbered RYE to RYI3, the relays actuatin contacts to control the operation of the installation in accordance with the operation of the push buttons. The installation may also be remotely controlled from any one of a number of remote points at each of which (see Figure 7) are push buttons E51, 681', 671, 681, and 6-91 corresponding to the push buttons 64, 66, 61, 68 and 69, a relay RYii corresponding" to the relay RY], a relay RS221 corresponding to the relay RYZ and a microphone E61 and loudspeaker 611 corresponding to the microphone 60 and loudspeaker 6 l the apparatus at the remote point being connected to the main installation by a ten-core cable attached to ten of the ways l' to 4 and? to 12 of a twelve way connector indicated at Hi. The remaining two ways 5 and 6' of the connector are connected to a telephone circuit so that recordings may be made of telephone conversations.

Signals lamps ll', 12 and 73 are provided at the main installation, and corresponding signal lamps ll 1, H1 and 131 are provided at each remot point. Rectifiers T9 are provided in the circuits of the signal lamps to permit flow of current in only one direction in those circuits.

The installation is supplied with alternating current at T4 for driving the electric motor [3, with high tension current at 15 for supplying the oscillator 83, and. with direct current at T6 for the control circuits.

The relay RY! at the main installation, and the corresponding relays RlYlr at" the remote points, serve when the switch SW or SW1 is in the upper position, to connect either the microphone or the loudspeaker to lines "H and 18 leading, through the contacts R321; and R3520 to contacts on the relay RYE. When the rlayRYE is de-energizeol, these lines are connected through contacts RY5d and RYE: to the secondary winding of the output transformer of the amplifier 62, and when the relay RYE is energized, one of them is (2011-! nected through contacts RYEC to contacts on relay KY4, contacts RY le of which connect this line to one end of the primary winding of the input transformer of the amplifier when the relay is energised, whilst contacts RY lr earth the said line when the relay is de-energized. The other line is connected through contacts to other contacts on the relay 3Y4,- being earthed through contacts RY411 when the said relay is de energized and connected through contacts Bil i to the other end of thepri'mary winding of the input transformer of the amplifier when the relay is energized. Contacts RY l earth a centre tapping on the said primary winding when the relay RYE is energized. U u 4 k 7 The relays RYiil and RYIZ, in addition to controlling electrical contacts perform mechanical work during the movement of their armatures, the relay RYID which, when energized, starts the electric motor 13, serving also to release the brakes acting on the drums 22, whilst the relay RYI2, which is energized only during recording, operates the clutch 29 as described above.

The following description of the operation of the installation deals with operation under the control of the push-buttons on the main installation, but operation from any of the remote points is similar. The first, operation is to press the push-button 54 which opens a pair of contacts 19, and, an instant later, makes two pairs of contacts 80 and 8!, all three contacts being series connected in the circuit of the relay RY2, contacts 80 and Si being also in the circuits of the relays RYZ1 at the remote points, so that, through ways 3 and 7 of the twelve way connector, the pressing of push-button 64 energizes the relays RY21, but leaves de-energized the relay RYZ. The relay RYE when energized, by the operation of a push-button 54, in one of the remote units, closes contacts RY2a and opens contacts RYZb, RYZc and RYZa, the contacts RY2a being in the circuit of the signal lamp 1!, and the contacts RYZb, RYZC being in the microphone or loudspeaker circuit and the contacts RY2d in a common direct current supply line to the contacts operated by the remaining push-buttons, so that the energizing of this relay puts the microphone, loudspeaker, and push-buttons at the main installation out of action, and the illumination of lamp ll indicates that a remote unit is being used, i. e., engaged. Since the relays RYZi act in a similar manner to the relay RY2 to put out of action the microphone and push-buttons at the remote points, operation of the push-button 64 at the main installation renders all the said remote points inoperative, and lights up the lamps H1 at those points, whilst leaving the main'installation operative. The push-button 64 looks automatically in position when depressed. The relays RY2 and RYZi thus act as isolating relays to isolate all but one recording point from the main installation, the microphone-loudspeaker set at the main installation being regarded as one of the recording points.

To commence a recording, push-button 6'! is pressed and released, the pressing of the button closing contacts 82 to complete a number of parallel circuits, through lamp #3 and relays RYl, RY3, RY I, RYE and RYI2. All of these circuits include the normally closed contacts RYZs, and the closing of contacts RYlZc when. the relay RY|2 is energized closes a path in parallel with that including the contacts 32 and RYZd, said par-' allel path including also normally closed contacts RY9e and RYI3d. The closing of this parallel path maintains the said relays energized when the button 6'! is released. 7

The closing of contacts RYE 2b due to the energization of the relay RYI2 energizes relay RY), closing contacts RYlQb to complete a circuit through the motor l3 and start it rotating in one direction, the movement of the armature of relay RYIO releasing the brakes. The energizing of relay RY! closes contacts RYla' and RYic, the energizing of relay RYE closes contacts RYBc and RYE and the energizing of relay RYQ closes contacts RYs and RY-Qa, the closing of these three pairs of contacts connecting the microphone 60 to the amplifier unit 62 as described above, through the normally closed contacts RYZb and RY2 of the relay RYZ, and the switch SW. The I contacts RY5a and RYE also closed by the energising of relay RYE respectively connect the recording winding of the recording and reproducing head l2 to'the output of the amplifier unit, and connect the high tension supply to the oscillator 63. Contacts RY3a and RY3b, closed by the energizing of relay RY3 connect the recording winding and the wipe-out winding of the recording head respectively to the high frequency oscillator 63, to apply bias to the recording winding and to render the wipe-out winding operative.

The installation is thus in a condition in which words spoken into the microphone are recorded magnetically on the wire, and remains in this condition, with the wire moving continuously past the recording head, until the push-button 68 is pressed, closing contacts 59 to energize relay RYI3 which closes contacts RYl3a and opens contacts RYIEb, RYI3 and RYlSa. The opening of contacts RYiSc breaks the circuit of relay RYI2, thus opening contacts RYl2b to break the circuit of the relay RYlll, and opening the contacts RYIZO to break the circuits of relays RYi, RY3,,RY4, and RYE, the relay RYlt switching 011' the motor and applying the brakes.

The counters 34 and 35 have been drivenduring the recording, and both show the time, in minutes, taken to make the recording. The contacts controlled by the counter 35 are designated 35235 and 35, whilst the contacts controlled by the counter 34 are designated 34 34", 34, 34 34 and 34 When the recording is stopped some or all of the contacts 35*, 35 and 35 are open depending on the time taken for the recording, whilst some or all of the contacts 34*, 34 et 35 35 and 34 are closed. The third counter 30 is at zero, the clutch through which it is driven having been disconnected, and contacts 36 30 and 38 actuated by the discs are closed.

To enable the recording to be played back to him, the operator presses button 65, closing contacts 83 to light lamp F2 and complete a circuit through normally closed contacts RYliid to energize relay RY9, closing contacts RYSa, RYQb, RYQQ and RYiid and opening contacts RYQe, RYQI, RYQ and RYBh. The closing of contacts RYSQ completes a circuit through normally closed contacts RYld to energize relay RYIB, closing contacts RYllla, RYlEb, and RYIEC and opening contacts RYltd and RYlile, the closing of contacts RYlflb starting the motor, whilst the movement of the relay armature releases the brakes. Contacts RYiUc complete a circuit through relay RYHl including contacts 34 34 and 34 (or such of those contacts as are closed), contacts RYl3d, and further contacts 84 and 85 held closed by devices 88 and 81. These are so arranged that the device 86 or 81 which is controlled by the reel which is for the time being the take-elf reel maintains its corresponding contact closed so long as a torque is applied to the reel due tothe tension of the wire; should the wire break and the torque cease to exist the contact will open. The relay RYlG thus remains energised when the push button 66 is released, as also does the relay RY9, the circuit through which is kept closed by its own contacts RYed and the contacts RYllla. The closing of contacts RYSb energises relay RYE to close contacts RYEa, RYSb, and RYSC, and to open contacts RYEd, the closing of contacts RYEC energising the relay RY! to close contacts RYis, RYlb, and Rifle, and open contacts RYTc; The loudspeaker 6! is short-circuited by the contacts RYts and is therefore inoperative.

'The'opening of contacts RY9: and the closing of contacts RYSa due to the energisation of relay menisc -rec ing backwardly, and counter 3B forwardly. This continues until the counter 34 reaches the zero position, when the contacts 34*, M and 34 are all open and the' circuit of therelay RYIO is broken, thus stopping the motor and applying the brakes. The counter 30 now reads the same as did the counter 34 when the recording ceased, and the contacts 30 30 and 30 are open. The de-energising of relay" RY'lc' opens contacts RYHls, causing relay RYE to become de-energised and opens contacts RYQb to open the cir'-- cult of relay'RYG'thereleaseof which is delayed for a short period by the discharging of the condenser C5. When the relay RY6 is released the contacts RYiid are closed to complete a circuit through'contacts RYlb and the relayRYl 0, which is-thus re-energized to "start the motor l3 in the forward direction and release the'brakes. The relay RY; is'held closed regardless of the position' of relays RYEi and RY'I, as the closing of contacts RYlcc completes the parallel circuit through contacts RYIBC, RYB and RY|3d and the contacts 84 and 85. The relays RY'I, RY3, RYA and RY are now de-energized, so that the loudspeaker is connected through contactsRYlb and RYld, RYEd and RYEr to the amplifier the contacts RY3s and RYSb are open so that the recording. and wipe-out windings of therecording head are disconnected from the oscillator, contacts RY5g are open so that there is no high tension applied to the oscillator, and contacts RY'b and RYde connect the recording winding of the recording headto the'amplifier.

The wire now runs forwardly through the recording head, and the recorded material is heard in the loudspeaker, this operation continuing until the counter 30 reaches zero, closing the contacts 38 36 and 35!? (or such of them as were open), andcharging'a condenser CH which produces a current impulse in relay RYI3, thus energising the said relay for a long enough period to'open the contacts RYISb, RYlSc and RY|3d, and so de-energizing relays RY4, RYE, RY? and RYlii so that the motor is stopped, the brakes are applied, and the connections between the recording head and the loudspeaker are broken. Thecounter 3 2 is now again at a position indicating the time taken for the recording.

The push button 69 is now pressed, releasing the push-button Gd through a mechanical interlock, and closing contacts 88 to energise relay RYH which closes contacts RYH-s and RYllr; the latter contacts, in series with contacts 34,

34 34 (or such or them as are closed) com--- pleting a holding circuit for that relay. Contacts RYlis complete the circuit through the solenoid 45- which first actuates the hammer to apply the paper strip and inked ribbon to the type figures oi the countered to provide a printed record of the message time, and then advances the paper strip and inked ribbon, and zeroises the counters so and as. The counter 35 remains at the reading shown at the completion of the recording, and adds to this the reading for the nextrecording.

Ihe push button 55, when depressed, closes contacts 69 which energize the relay RYIO to permit forward running of the wire without the:

recording a paratus being operative, so-that'the record" can be heard. If this button is pressed after the button 69' has been pressed to zeroise the counter 34, the machine runs forwardly un--' til stopped, but will-run back again ifthe button 56 is subsequently pressed, without reversing when thecounter 34 reaches zero, since counter 30 simultaneously reache zero and prov'idesan impulse to operate the relay RYI3.

In the above description, it has been assumed that the counters are operated mechanically, but they may'beopera'ted electrically by means of a solenoid energized intermittently through camoperated contacts. Such counters could be employed at theremoteunits as well as at'th main installation, and the counter 39 could then be connected and disconnected electrically instead or mechanically:

The remote units do' not'include"a push button equivalentto the button 65 at the'main installation. Modified remote-units may be providedior transcription purposes which are provided with a push button corresponding to 65 to provide con tinuous forward running, and no button corresponding to El, whichls'ets the installation for re cording. Such a unit may be provided with an alternative push button actingto reverse the wire for a short predetermined period (by energizing the relay RYS), and then reverting to forward running.

The electric motor it has two terminals each connected to one pole of thesupply, and a third terminal connected to either'pole of? the supply through a condenser C3 and the contacts RYQs or RYtlrto cause the motor to run in one. or the other direction. Another condenser C8 is arranged in series with the condenser C3 and short circuited by contacts RY3a opened'by energization of relay RYB, which relay is energized when the motor is stationary, and is dc-energized when the motor is started, by the opening'oi con tacts RYIBe the tie-energizing of the" relay being delayed by the discharge of a condenser Cit; Contacts RYPh, which are opened-when the motor is started in the reverse direction, cause another condenser CI!) to discharge simultaneously with the condenser C9, thus reducing the de1ay=in deenergization oftherelay RYii whenthe motor is started in reverse. The condenser C8 serves to reduce th capacity in the: motor. supply line, and

thus provides a low power start.

The switch SW7 provided in the main installation', and similar switches SW1 provided. at the remote points, enable the installation to be used to record telephone conversations, the electrical impulses in the telephone. circuit being applied clirectly to" the amplifier instead of'tlie impulses produced by speech into the microphone.

I claim: 7

1. In an electric recording-and-reproducing I installation provided'with' rotatable wire or tapeholding take-oil and receiving reels and a wire or tape recording-and reproducing head, the combination of means selectively operative for rotating the receiving reel to receive the wireor tape from the take-off reel during recording or reproducing and for rotating the take-off reel to rewind the'wire or tape from the receiving reel, a first counting device; means for coupling the rotating means to the first counting device to drive the first counting device forward during the recording'from a reference position to a predetermined position representative of the length of the recording and'backward during the rewind from'the predetermined position to the reference position, a second counting device, means 9 for rendering the second counting device ineffective during the recording, means for coupling the rotating means to the second counting device to render the second counting device efiective upon commencement of the rewind to count forward from a reference position during th rewind and backward during the reproduction, the first and second counting devices counting at the same speed, first switching means, means controlled by the first counting device for actuating the first switching means when, during rewind, the first counting device registers its reference position, an electric circuit controlled by the actuated first switching device for causing the rotating means to thereupon rotate the receiving reel and simultaneously to energize the recording-and-reproducing head for reproduction, second switching means, means controlled by the second counting device for actuating the second switching means when, during reproduction, the second counting device registers its reference position, and an electric circuit controlled by the actuated second switching device for thereupon stopping the rotating means.

2. An installation as claimed in claim 1 and in which means is provided for setting the first and second counting devices to their reference positions without movement of the wire or tape.

3. An electric recording and reproducing installation according to claim 1 wherein the first counting device carries figures which co-operate with printing mechanism to provide a printed record of the length of a recording.

l. An electric recording and reproducing installation according to claim 1 having manually controlled switch means for starting the rotating means to rotate the receiving reel, and for ener gizing the recording and reproducing head for recording, further manually controlled switch means for stopping the rotating means and deenergizing the recording head, and still further manually controlled switch means for starting the rotating means to rotate the take-off reel and for initiating the operation of the second counting device.

5. An electric recording and reproducing installation according to claim 3 wherein additional manually controlled, switch means are provided for initiating the action of the printing mechanism and the resetting to their reference positions of the counting devices.

6. An electric recording and reproducing installation according to claim 4, wherein the manually controlled switch means includes manually operated switches of the self-opening type the closing of which energize relays, holding con- 10 tacts being provided to maintain the circuits closed when the switches are opened.

'7. An electric recording and reproducing installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are provided which prevent operation of the said installation in the event of breakage to the tape or wire.

8. An electric recording and reproducing installation according to claim 1, wherein the wire or tape is adapted to record words received by any one of a plurality of microphones located at spaced recording points and to repeat recorded material at the same recording point, means for controlling the installation being provided at each recording point.

9. An electric recording and reproducing installation according to claim 8, wherein at each recording point there is provided an isolating relay controlling contacts through which the microphone and loudspeaker at that recording point are connected to the recording and reproducing system, each said relay being energized by the operation of a starting switch at any other recording point to disconnect the said microphone and loudspeaker from the recording and reproducing system.

10. An electric recording and reproducing installation according to claim 9, wherein operation of the starting switch at any recording point illuminates signal lamps at all the other recording points.

11. An electric recording and reproducing installation according to claim 9, wherein the isolating relays remain energized after operation of a starting switch until they are de-energised by the operation of a second switch operation of which also causes the setting at the reference positions of the first and second counting devices.

12. An electric recording and reproducing installation according to claim 1, wherein wipe-out means are provided which are in operation at all times when the recording and reproducing head is energised for recording, the wire or tape passing the wipe-out means before it reaches the point at which the record is applied thereto.

JOHN EDWARD GODECK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,237,496 Frankhouser Aug. 21, 1917 1,883,560 Chipman Oct. 18, 1932 2,540,299 Shoup Feb. 6, 1951 

